Patty Griffin

A singer and songwriter whose literate, impressionistic storytelling and richly evocative melodies have made her one of the best-respected artists in the contemporary folk community, Patty Griffin was born in Old Town, Maine on March 16, 1964. The youngest of seven children, Griffin was 16 years old when she bought her first guitar for $50. While Griffin learned to play, she showed no interest in making music a career in her teens and twenties; however, when her marriage broke up in 1992, Griffin, now living in Boston, developed a keener interest in writing songs, and was soon performing regularly at local coffeehouses. A&R people from A&M Records were impressed with Griffin's songs and soulful performing style, and she was signed to a record deal; early attempts to capture her sound in the studio didn't quite click, so her 1996 debut album, Living with Ghosts, was drawn from Griffin's original acoustic demo recordings. The 1998 follow-up, Flaming Red, teamed Griffin with a full band and a full-bodied production in sharp contrast to the spare sound of the debut. Griffin recorded an album in 2000 with producer Daniel Lanois called Silver Bell, but before it could be released, A&M was taken over by Universal in a corporate merger, and the album was put on the shelf while Griffin was left in limbo. Eventually, Griffin was released from her A&M contract, and she signed with ATO Records, the artist-friendly label founded by Dave Matthews, and ATO released 1000 Kisses in 2002. In 2003 Griffin released a live album, A Kiss in Time, and by this time she was gaining greater recognition as a performer, with her songs being recorded by Willie Nelson, the Dixie Chicks, Bette Midler, and Emmylou Harris, while Shawn Colvin, Miranda Lambert, Solomon Burke, and the Wreckers would follow suit over the next several years.

After releasing 2004's Impossible Dream, Griffin took three years off from the studio before returning with 2007's Children Running Through, which was named the year's best album by the Americana Music Association. In 2010 Griffin and her friend and collaborator Buddy Miller set up shop in Nashville's Downtown Presbyterian Church to record Downtown Church, a set of spiritually themed numbers, which won a Grammy for Best Traditional Gospel Album. That same year, Griffin took part in the recording sessions for Robert Plant's album Band of Joy, and she joined Plant's road band for the subsequent concert tour; Griffin also became the belated subject of music business gossip when she and Plant entered into a love affair that found the former Led Zeppelin singer briefly relocating to Austin, Texas, where she'd been living since the late '90s. By 2013 Griffin and Plant had gracefully parted ways, and she released the primarily acoustic set American Kid, a joint release between Columbia and New West Records. Also in 2013, Griffin's unreleased album Silver Bell finally received an official release (though the album had been circulating among fans for years), and her song "We Are Water" was performed by Hayden Panettiere on the hit TV series Nashville. In 2015 Griffin launched her own label, PGM, distributed by Thirty Tigers, and inaugurated the imprint with a new album, Servant of Love. ~ Mark Deming

Comments

Top-drawer songwriting combined with a voice so pure it's to die for...what can I say, I love Patty Griffin's work. Check out "Burgundy Shoes" on her "Children running Through" album. So happy my Sister-in Law turned me on to her!

My Ex= told me about how fantastic she was;I wasn't real open to her views to be polite;but as I've gotten back to Music and it's healing-heard a CD and was impressed-each time I hear her I realize what a tremendous talent she is;the Thrill is returning to paraphrase BB...I'm free from Spells;Singing again is helping me find Musical Therapy to battle Cancer etc. and Patti is now high on my list!

One of the best song writers EVER! The was she weaves a whole story into a 2 minute song is truly a gift Saw her at the Ryman after Children Running Through I believe. It was amazing and I've had a full on girl crush ever since!. I know every song she has written by heart. I

Agree with everything you said Ginnylaughlin! And I was also at that same concert--there to see Lucinda and that is when I first learned of Patty! Needless to say my friend and I were BLOWN away!! We are usually impatient when opening acts come on wanting the person we came to see to take the stage as soon as possible, but that night we didn't want Patty to leave the stage!! AMAZING show!!

8 months ago

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ginnylaughlin

One of the best concerts ever was Patti opening for Lucinda at the Fillmore in San Francisco in 1999. She gets better and better! Going to see her in March in Napa. Always find it amusing when she tells the story of buying new high heels (on sale) and worrying that she'll trip onstage. When she played in Santa Rosa a some ago she wore a very ladylike sheath with heels, so sexy with her wild hair. Go Patti, we love you!

Found her listening to Martha's vineyard radio on the cape one summer vacation... Found lucinda williams as well... If you can pick it up, check it out...

11 months ago

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kerridoll64

Patty, I discovered your music after Mary was played on season 2 of Sons of Anarchy. Though late to the party, I have joined the ranks of true fans! Your music is thoughtful, evocative, moving. Thank you for sharing your talent

Patty did a Soundstage show with Emmy Lou Harris, Sean Colvin and Buddy Miller called 3 Girls and their Buddy. There are tracks on You Tube of which some are not great sound quality, but the content is masterful. Check it out!

Mother of God is just what it needs to be. That single piano key steps in over and over , keeping the song grounded while giving it incredible strength, like the distant memory that inspired the lyrics. No other voice would fit as well.

2 years ago

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hclausen2

Is that haunting beat made by a bodhran ?

2 years ago

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lnelle73

Patty Griffiin is the ultimate--singer, musician, songwriter, artist, poet. I've been addicted to her music for several decades and I can never get enough. After hearing her song Mary,hundreds of times, it still moves me.

Patty is a goddess. In around '99 I saw her at House of Bues LA on the same night as the Grammy Awards. Emmy Lou came in at the end of the show in her Grammy gown, to sing harmony. She held a hand up over Patty's head as if to crown her and told the crowd, 'This is who should have been getting an award.' Indeed. Great writer, great voice, great tunesmith.

3 years ago

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perrim0

This is why I love Pandora...being introduced to incredible artists like Patty Griffin

Patty is unique... and that says a lot these days. I've always loved her music... her diversity is quite amazing, from this song's lullaby-like slow pace to the powerful sonic blast of Flaming Red. She's one of my favorites, and always gives me a great balance when I've listened to enough hard rock for a while...

dont read this because it actually works. You will get kissed on the nearest possible Friday by the love of your life. tomorrow will be the best day of your life. however if you do not post this comment to at least 3 songs you will die in 2 days. now you've started reading this so don't stop. this is so scary put this on at least 5 songs in at least 143 minutes when if done press f6 and your lovers name will appear on the screen in big letters this is scary cause it actually works29 days ag

3 years ago

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itz2good

This song is sad but true to the if you love something set it free.., sigh.